"From Bop to Bach" and a fond farewell to a favorite songbird warm Twin Cities jazz venues this week.
Highlights This Week
Back in November, pianist Laura Caviani revisited some of her classical repertoire, now interpreted through her post-bop experiences as composer and performer. In trio format, she captivated the Artists Quarter audience with her new takes on Bach, Schubert, Chopin, Debussy, McDowell and more. Now she's back with an expanded program and expanded band, adding vibes master Dave Hagedorn to an ensemble with Chris Bates on bass and Phil Hey on drums, “From Bach to Bop" this weekend, back at the AQ (1/6-7). And you can be sure Laura will add works by Monk, Mary Lou Williams, maybe Alec Wilder and Horace Silver?
Friday night (1/6), the Black Dog continues its biweekly “Community Pool—Deep End" series curated by Nathan Hanson and Brian Roessler. Tonight's offering comes from Hanson, Pat O'Keefe, Pat Moriarty, and Davu Seru. Horns a plenty. Across town at the Dakota (1/6), Cuban firebrand Nachito Herrera is back with a night of flaming musical cigars, piano madness and lots of fun. And stick around late (or come downtown!) for the shape of jazz to come, with the Jake Baldwin Sextet on the Late Night schedule. Jake is a prodigious trumpeter in his third year at the New England Conservatory of Music, a finalist in the 2011 International Trumpet Guild Solo Competition and alum of Minnetonka High School, the Dakota Combo and Minnesota Youth Jazz Band. Tonight he gathers some equally outstanding young players studying in college music programs or recently graduated and launching their careers.
If you are looking for some excellent chamber jazz in an informal but classy context, remember some weekly offerings in both downtowns—the Joann Funk/Jeff Brueske duo in the Lobby Bar of the St Paul Hotel, and the Benny Weinbeck Trio (with Gordy Johnson and usually Phil Hey) at D'Amico Kitchen in the Meridien/Chambers Hotel. This month, catch them on Friday and Saturday nights (1/6-1/7). Nathan Norman fills in for Hey this weekend with Benny.
Tuesday night at the Dakota (1/10), the Twin Cities jazz community celebrates the life and music of Christine Rosholt, one of the area's most popular vocalists who passed away on December 28th. Paying respects will be a long list of musicians, including her frequent cohorts Tanner Taylor, Graydon Peterson, Mac Santiago, Dave Karr, fellow vocalists and more, many of whom appeared on her December release, Pazz.
Café Maude has been hosting some fine jazz ensembles lately, and this week is no exception. Peter Schimke, James Buckley and Jay Epstein form an inventive trio on Wednesday night (1/11), and the menu from Maude's kitchen is a fine complement to improvisation.
More Jazz!
Things seem a bit slower in January but there's always several choices on any given night. Visit KBEM's jazz calendar online for updates. Friday, January 6: Happy Hour with Peter Schimke and Irv Williams at the Dakota; Glen Helgeson and Gary Schulte at the 318 Café; Vic Volare Fabulous Friday at Mediterranean Cruise Saturday, January 7: Zacc Harris Trio with Debbie Duncan at Hell's Kitchen; Parisota Hot Club at the Loring Pasta Bar; Vicky Mountain and James Allen at First Course Bistro; JazZen at The Nicollet Sunday, January 8: Brunch with Patty and the Buttons at the Aster Café; Zacc Harris Trio at the Riverview Wine Bar; Jerry O'Hagan Orchestra with Charmin Michelle at Cinema Ballroom Monday, January 9: Sophia Shorai at the Dakota; Headspace at the Artists Quarter; Improvised Music with Milo Fine and friends at Homewood Studios; Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; James Buckley at Barbette Tuesday, January 10: Cory Wong Quartet at the Artists Quarter (early show) followed by Memorial for Howie Foss; Jack Brass at the Driftwood; Cedar Avenue Big Band at the Shorewood Wednesday, January 11: Steve Kenny and the Bastids followed by the Dave Karr Quartet at the Artists Quarter; Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza Thursday, January 12: Rhonda Laurie at the Aster Café; Phil Hey Quartet at the Artists Quarter
Coming Soon!
Highlights This Week
Back in November, pianist Laura Caviani revisited some of her classical repertoire, now interpreted through her post-bop experiences as composer and performer. In trio format, she captivated the Artists Quarter audience with her new takes on Bach, Schubert, Chopin, Debussy, McDowell and more. Now she's back with an expanded program and expanded band, adding vibes master Dave Hagedorn to an ensemble with Chris Bates on bass and Phil Hey on drums, “From Bach to Bop" this weekend, back at the AQ (1/6-7). And you can be sure Laura will add works by Monk, Mary Lou Williams, maybe Alec Wilder and Horace Silver?
Friday night (1/6), the Black Dog continues its biweekly “Community Pool—Deep End" series curated by Nathan Hanson and Brian Roessler. Tonight's offering comes from Hanson, Pat O'Keefe, Pat Moriarty, and Davu Seru. Horns a plenty. Across town at the Dakota (1/6), Cuban firebrand Nachito Herrera is back with a night of flaming musical cigars, piano madness and lots of fun. And stick around late (or come downtown!) for the shape of jazz to come, with the Jake Baldwin Sextet on the Late Night schedule. Jake is a prodigious trumpeter in his third year at the New England Conservatory of Music, a finalist in the 2011 International Trumpet Guild Solo Competition and alum of Minnetonka High School, the Dakota Combo and Minnesota Youth Jazz Band. Tonight he gathers some equally outstanding young players studying in college music programs or recently graduated and launching their careers.
If you are looking for some excellent chamber jazz in an informal but classy context, remember some weekly offerings in both downtowns—the Joann Funk/Jeff Brueske duo in the Lobby Bar of the St Paul Hotel, and the Benny Weinbeck Trio (with Gordy Johnson and usually Phil Hey) at D'Amico Kitchen in the Meridien/Chambers Hotel. This month, catch them on Friday and Saturday nights (1/6-1/7). Nathan Norman fills in for Hey this weekend with Benny.
Tuesday night at the Dakota (1/10), the Twin Cities jazz community celebrates the life and music of Christine Rosholt, one of the area's most popular vocalists who passed away on December 28th. Paying respects will be a long list of musicians, including her frequent cohorts Tanner Taylor, Graydon Peterson, Mac Santiago, Dave Karr, fellow vocalists and more, many of whom appeared on her December release, Pazz.
Café Maude has been hosting some fine jazz ensembles lately, and this week is no exception. Peter Schimke, James Buckley and Jay Epstein form an inventive trio on Wednesday night (1/11), and the menu from Maude's kitchen is a fine complement to improvisation.
More Jazz!
Things seem a bit slower in January but there's always several choices on any given night. Visit KBEM's jazz calendar online for updates. Friday, January 6: Happy Hour with Peter Schimke and Irv Williams at the Dakota; Glen Helgeson and Gary Schulte at the 318 Café; Vic Volare Fabulous Friday at Mediterranean Cruise Saturday, January 7: Zacc Harris Trio with Debbie Duncan at Hell's Kitchen; Parisota Hot Club at the Loring Pasta Bar; Vicky Mountain and James Allen at First Course Bistro; JazZen at The Nicollet Sunday, January 8: Brunch with Patty and the Buttons at the Aster Café; Zacc Harris Trio at the Riverview Wine Bar; Jerry O'Hagan Orchestra with Charmin Michelle at Cinema Ballroom Monday, January 9: Sophia Shorai at the Dakota; Headspace at the Artists Quarter; Improvised Music with Milo Fine and friends at Homewood Studios; Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; James Buckley at Barbette Tuesday, January 10: Cory Wong Quartet at the Artists Quarter (early show) followed by Memorial for Howie Foss; Jack Brass at the Driftwood; Cedar Avenue Big Band at the Shorewood Wednesday, January 11: Steve Kenny and the Bastids followed by the Dave Karr Quartet at the Artists Quarter; Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza Thursday, January 12: Rhonda Laurie at the Aster Café; Phil Hey Quartet at the Artists Quarter
Coming Soon!
- January 13, Jon Weber at the Artists Quarter
- January 14, Richard Johnson Trio at the Artists Quarter
- January 14, Roseville Winter Jazz Blast with Mike Stern at Maranantha Hall, Northwestern College
- January 15, Bryan Nichols “Keith Jarrett's American Quartet" at the Artists Quarter (Jazz From J to Z)
- January 21, Paula Lammers and Mary Louise Knutson, Jazz @ St. Barney's
- January 22-23, M'Shell Ndgeocello at the Dakota
- January 25-26, Nellie McKay at the Dakota
- January 27-28, Bryan Nichols Quintet at the Artists Quarter
- January 28-29, Great Guitars (Joan Griffith, Sam Miltich) with Connie Evingson at the Bloomington Center for the Arts (Jazz From J to Z)
- February 3, Matt Haimovitz at Macalester
- February 8-9, Jeff Lorber Fusion (with Randy Brecker) at the Dakota
- February 10-11, Bobby Peterson Memorial Piano Showcase at the Artists Quarter
- February 15-16, Hugh Masekela at the Dakota
- February 16, Kurt Elling and Lizz Wright at Orchestra Hall
- February 17, A Love Electric at the Artists Quarter
- February 25, Laura Caviani, Jazz@St. Barneys
- March 1-2, Vijay Iyer at the Walker Art Center (McGuire Theater)
- March 9-10, Manhattan Transfer at the Dakota
- March 10, Caswell Sisters with JazzMN Orchestra at the Hopkins High School Performing Arts Center
- March 20, Toots Thielmans and Kenny Werner at the Dakota
- March 21-22, Al DiMeolo and Gonzalo Rubalcaba at the Dakota
